I've taken a big eBay gamble.

[valis2]

I was unsure about when to list things, and I had a choice of ending auctions on Wednesday or Friday. I chose Friday, thinking that on the night after Thanksgiving, a lot of people will be online and shopping.

However, my stuff isn't really...gifty.

I'm a little worried, because there aren't a lot of bids, and there's barely a day left. However, there are some watchers. I hope this pays off, because I did list one or two really unique things.

Also, based on harry_crazy's recs, I will be switching the way I figure shipping...completely. Instead of flat fees, I'll do it all based on weight. I have a scale, but it is a bit defective (the decimal point is in the wrong place) and the weight limit is much too low. So I'll get a better scale this weekend, and I'll weight everything and completely revise the listings. I decided to take a few days off from the listings instead of doing a quick four day listing, and I'll use that time to do the revisions. It does kind of freak me out, though, because I like to have listings at all times. At least my store will still have stuff up.

The other thing I'm considering is making myself open to charge card payments. There are apparently two ways of doing this; through an external program that the buyer has to go into, or through them emailing me the charge number in two pieces. I'm still worried about this. Do you have any problems in sending your charge number to eBay merchants this way, instead of using Paypal? ANY input would be much appreciated. I'm really unsure as to how to go about this.

Comments

[ellid.livejournal.com]

I just bid on two lots. We'll see what happens...:)

[valis2.livejournal.com]

Oh, hooray!

*runs off and looks*

Heh, cute name!

There are other watchers for both, so someone might try to snipe you at the last minute, just to let you know. :)

[ellid.livejournal.com]

Yep! I'll check again before the bidding closes. Either way you'll sell those lots.

[valis2.livejournal.com]

:) That rocks!

[cactus-wren.livejournal.com]

an external program that the buyer has to go into

Now that you mention it, the buyer I used a credit card through used a 'Google checkout'. I clicked their button on the listing and it took me to their Google checkout, where I paid.

[valis2.livejournal.com]

Google checkout?!! Oh, I am SO going to go check that out. Thank you so very much!!!

[cactus-wren.livejournal.com]

Glad to be of some help!

[harry-crazy.livejournal.com]

I've bought alot of things that use their own checkout method. I WOULD NOT in any way, EVER mail my cc# to someone that I don't know. I feel safer using paypal or another actual site like that. By the way, what is your seller name so that I can go look? I'll check under this name first...

[valis2.livejournal.com]

So you would never mail it to a vendor from whom you had purchased things on eBay? You only use one of the checkouts? Hmm.

I do accept credit cards in RL, I have my own merchant account. Maybe I should contact the organization through which I accept them...they might have their own checkout program I can use.

Worth a phone call!

[harry-crazy.livejournal.com]

but what is your ebay name???

[valis2.livejournal.com]

er...I don't generally give that out on my LJ, I like to keep my business and my LJ life separate. :(

[harry-crazy.livejournal.com]

ok...just wanted to check out your auctions, see how they look and if there's anything I could say/bid on. no hurts.